I grew up using paper maps. Yeah, I know, very Old School. But a map is one of those magical tools that invites you to explore. My dad always had the latest Rand McNally atlas in the house and we would spend hours following the interstate highways seeing where they went and what we could find to visit as we drove through.

When I moved to Los Angeles, one of the first things I did was get my very own copy of the Thomas Guide. It was an atlas of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties. A wealth of information, a valuable tool, a reliable resource.

Thomas Guides were the one thing you needed to have in your vehicle. With that guide you could go anywhere in the area and get home on your own.

Now I know lots of folks swear by GPS systems but I have had far too many instances (my own and other folks) where that system failed. In my own case one will lead you to my door while another will take you on a wild goose chase. And that is when they are working. We all know the Internet never, ever goes down and there is service everywhere, right? /s Paper maps can be the one tool you need to make sure you get home.

Old school tools can often still be reliable even when it might be ‘easier’ to use a GPS. And you can spend hours browsing, planning, dreaming your next adventure.

Speaking of Old School Tools, AllRecipes recently did a piece on Route 66. It is a wonderful read, but I particularly liked Samantha Brown’s comment about actually finding Route 66. Click HERE to read more.

Happy Adventuring!

There is something special – magical – about a house that is truly a home and not a place keeper for the next occupant. I don’t know about you but I am past tired of the mentality of decorating a home just to entice the next owner. When you realize that almost every new owner rips out everything the prior owner did to put their own mark on the place you really have to wonder… At least I hope you do.

Shelby’s Cottage is one of those rare YouTube channels devoted to making her (their) house a home. Their home. Colors, decor, window treatments, and all the other odds and ends that make a house a home.

They recently completed the addition of a breakfast nook and I have to tell you I love it! Check it out:

Comfortable seating. Pleasant lighting. Useful and attractive window treatments. This one has everything including accommodating the cats.

I also appreciate that it is a well thought out space. Every inch has been considered. It is a fully functioning space.

Wish I had room in my home for one!

If you have been around here for any length of time you will know that Sunday mornings are my anticipated adventures in arm chair traveling with Mr. Carrington. Iwan takes us on all sorts of excursions and introduces us to lots of things. One of those ‘things’ is the artist Beryl Cook. Check out his recent Escape to Plymouth:

I have to admit I find Cook’s work entertaining on many levels. I love her use of color and the unique way she creates her people. That touch of humor and whimsy mixed with truth is refreshing. I get the feeling that buried in each work is a mischievous elf sharing some magic.

You might find THIS article from the BBC of interest, too. There is something radical about painting people who are living their true lives and not being afraid to add a touch of sauciness, too. For more background check out THIS article from 2014.

Enjoy!

Around my neck of the woods, Memorial Day signals the end of school and the beginning of Summer. Unless, of course, we have had an exceptionally bad Winter where kids were out of school due to weather more than usual.

As I browse the telly today I see a lot of commercials for all sorts of Long Weekend Projects – if the weather is good, it might be a good time to paint – and a lot (!) of cookery shows focusing on grilling and / or barb-e-queing.

Today, however, has been cool and damp and threatening more thunderstorms. Somehow I think there won’t be a rush to putter in the garden let along tackle that big painting project. LOL!

Here’s hoping your Memorial Day Weekend has been a good one!

One of the most prevalent topics I’ve seen lately is along the lines of Protecting My Peace. Finding calm. Recharging my own batteries. I suspect most of us are in that same boat, overwhelmed by what is in the news on an hourly, if not daily, cycle. There comes a point when my sanity is far more important than finding out who is having another tantrum and how things (that I have no control over) are falling apart.

Sound familiar?

I’ve started looking for ways to enjoy music that is calming and relaxing. That could be playlists I’ve developed for finding new ones – much to my amazement there seems to be a lot of them on a variety of platforms.

I am also in that dreaded ‘in between’ space where my authors have not yet published, so I am looking to find new authors to read/listen to.

In the past few years I have endeavored to use the good dishes, etc. I think this is important because waiting for some ‘special occasion’ could mean those wonderful treasures might never be used at all.

Which reminds me, if you find yourself wanting treasures, don’t forget to check out your local second hand, antique, or charity shops. You might be amazed to see what they have on hand.

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure.

Speaking of such shops, if you find yourself overwhelmed by the ‘stuff’ in your home, why not embark on a clear out program? Choose a room, a spot, a drawer, a closet and start clearing out the things that you no longer use, don’t want, don’t need. I don’t endorse a radical major clear out but a methodical purge. As we are heading into the end of school term now might be the opportune moment to get rid of things that no longer fit are no longer used, etc. Make it a summer project.

Meal planning could be a place where more organization and control would reduce, if not eliminate, stress. Farmer’s Markets will be gearing up so fresh fruits and veg will be available. Prime opportunities to try new recipes and explore new things. Cheaper, too.

I’m looking around and seeing opportunities to return to hobbies that got lost in the shuffle. These were one of those ‘I’ll get around to it later.’ things that might just be exactly what is needed.

Take a deep breath. Turn off the noise. Take it one step at a time.

😀

For many of us folks, Sunday Nights were when we watched Wonderful World of Disney*. This Disney staple was a rotating anthology series that gave us insight into all sorts of wonderful things while showcasing the Disney Studio expertise. You might still be able to find some over on YouTube.

Saturday night has become my favorite time of the week because Dennis over at West of Neverland (YouTube) brings us stories about the Disney classics providing context, history and insight. While most are under 20 minutes long, the weekly videos are interesting, thought provoking, memory jogging and enjoyable. In its way, West of Neverland is the modern equivalent of the Wonderful World of Disney.

I’m looking forward to doing a deep dive to see what is in the playlists and discover more about the podcast.

*The name changed a bit when color TV became more of a thing in the 60s.

There will be some renovation going on here. I don’t have a set time frame but plan on having the majority completed by the end of the month.

Thank you for visiting, commenting, liking, and sticking around. You have no idea how much it means. Really.

I looked up the other day to see a commercial for Memorial Day…! That end of May holiday… Needless to say, I was surprised. Not sure I am ready for that, either.

This has become a time of quiet. A time for peace, wherever we can find it.

As I contemplate this next phase, I wish you peace, calm and beautiful days.

It snuck up on me. Reset Time. That time you clear your caches, check your To Be Read, To Be Watched, To Be Done lists. You too?

I think the first inkling of it came when I happened across a Memorial Day Sale commercial. Memorial Day??? Then I looked at the calendar and the ‘ah ha’ moment happened. We have passed Spring Break and are honing in on Last Day of School. Summer vacation.

I did manage to find what might be the beginning of a Summer Binge on Tubi. The Batman (2004) was an animated series that ran for several seasons. The atmosphere works. The voices are interesting. The stories are well done. I managed to binge almost the entire first season before I knew it, now I’m trying to pace myself.

This was a lucky find as we head into season finale season. I admit I am not ready for that, either. It seems we just got started…

Have you thought about your plans for the next few months? Is there a series that you want to dive into? Let me know.

For as long as I can remember at least one dog or cat has been a part of my extended family. Someone, aunt & uncle, grandparent, had a dog. They were an unusual bunch if put together but each was well loved.

I came home from camp one year to find an almost brand new pup had taken up residence at my home, too. Almost Brand New because she had been at the house for several days…long enough to earn the name “Snooper” which, of course, became “Snoopy”. While she wasn’t ‘my’ dog we spent a lot of time together.

Let’s just say I’ve been blessed to have had the company of a lot of dogs and cats.

Now I don’t know about you but I have encountered quite the array of intelligence (and whimsy) when it comes to both cats and dogs. My aunt’s house had the carpeted living room next to the linoleum kitchen floor which led to a small breakfast nook. Straight line. Her small mixed breed dog delighted in taking off from the far end of the living room, running at full speed to the kitchen door and sliding across the linoleum until he literally banged into the far wall. Repeatedly.

I’ve been watching Sitting With Dogs for years now. Rocky & his team are amazing as are the teams at the shelters he visits. There are a lot of good people out there who want to help these animals (dogs and cats) find their forever homes.

Mia’s story started last November but by Christmas so much had changed. Check it out:

I have to say I find it odd, if not somewhat amusing, that folks don’t realize that these are sentient animals. They think, they feel, they are not the same as your sofa or your favorite chair. The other thing that seems to be a surprise is that while they can’t speak a Human language, they do learn to understand it.

Think about it, you learned to speak your original language by listening to the people around you. Same with animals. It isn’t just the sound of the voice that gives them information it is the words and their association that they have learned.

I won’t lie, Mia’s story brought tears to my eyes. The right family reached out. The shelter was able, not just willing, to work with them to get Mia to her new home. Mia is living her best life with many years to spend with her family. Win/Win if you ask me.

Please check out Rocky Kanaka’s channel and his website. Subscribe because that helps in ways you can not imagine. Or maybe you can.

In the meantime, let’s celebrate Mia’s Pupdate!